Shawnee national forest help

These 3 areas in fairly close proximity are among the scenic highlights of Shawnee with some great hiking:

Jackson Falls

Burden Falls

Bell Smith Springs

Here is my boilerplate list of Shawnee spots, moving from east to west!

EASTERN SEGMENT

Pounds Hollow: Very scenic day area with a deep carved canyon surrounded by high sandstone bluffs. It is possible to hike west through Pounds Hollow and ascend the bluff to a trail on the north side that crosses a forest road, and then connect with the River to River Trail, which crossed the road about a mile to the south after it comes out of the Beaver Creek area and heads west to High Knob.

High Knob: Highpoint with views along R2R trail about 3 miles east of Garden of the Gods. The hollow behind (northeast) of High Knob has some interesting rock bluffs (I have seen pics, have not yet visited).

Garden o Gods: Amazing rock formations with hoodoos and dramatic bluffs overlooking a wooded hollow. It’s worth a short bushwhack down toward Eagle Creek. Nice car camp area with some good tent sites on south side with views overlooking valley. R2R runs through the area from High Knob on way to Herod. There is a nice backpack camp site on the high ridge on R2R about 1.5 miles west of Garden of Gods, though water will be scarce up high.

One Horse Gap: Nice camping atop bluffs above gap, which is a narrow ramp-like crevice in a contiguous sandstone bluff stretching half a mile. If it has rained recently, you can find water in small potholes toward the southwest drainage atop the bluff. Otherwise, it is a good mile-long walk east and down to One Horse Gap Lake.

Lusk Creek: A fairly large wilderness with some cool bluffs and an extensive trail system. Would be great in the fall with hardwood forest. Secret Canyon is a hollow on the east side with large rock walls, rock shelters (overhangs), and a small waterfall. There are many areas like this in the Shawnee. R2R Trail cuts through the center of Lusk Creek Wilderness between One Horse Gap and Eddyville, where you can grab a hot meal.

Eddyville: quaint town where a R2R backpacker might grab a hot meal at the country store (it may or may not be open), a local restaurant, or at Hayes Creek Horse Camp about a mile north of town.

Double Branch Falls: Two dramatic waterfalls northwest of Eddyville. Double Branch Hole is just west of Hayes Canyon Campground (horse camp). Very cool little swim hole in rocky bowl of sandy bluffs that drains into Hayes Canyon.

Jackson Hole: Nearly precisely due west one mile (as the crow flies) of Double Branch is Jackson Hole (IL, not WY). This is a spectacular pour-off falls into a dramatic bluff-rimmed hollow. It is very scenic, and the nearby bluffs offer some scrambling opportunities. One can drive to Jackson Hole TH via Mustang Rd from the north. It's only about a mile to walk on good trail to the top of the falls.

The R2R Trail runs through Eddyville, but bypasses both Double Branch Hole and Jackson Hole. The R2R Trail follows Hayes Creek just below Double Branch Hole as it winds southwest a bit. But hikers can easily access Double Branch Hole from the R2R trailhead just west of Eddyville (a road leaves Eddyville via a farm field road just west of Main St and drops into the canyon). From here, hikers should follow the creek upstream (east), heading past big bluffs with some house-sized calved-off pieces, and they will find Double Branch Hole. Follow the main creek a bit further north and you will find a fun rock slide area with a small falls.

There is a NF trail to Jackson Hole west of Double Branch Hole. A more scenic route might to be follow the contour of the north side of Hayes Creek Canyon, curving around bluffs until you ascend the next hollow, which leads to Jackson Hole. There are several trails in this area used mostly by horses.


Bell Smith Springs + Burden Falls: Bell Smith Springs Wilderness has 10 miles of trail in three separate canyons that converge near its dramatic bluff area that has several large pools for swimming. The Hill Branch creek to the west has a cool rock sluice and a waterfall. There is a natural arch in Bay Creek canyon. Burden Falls is a short drive away. Nice car campground at Bell Smith that is rarely used.

A fun bushwack/orienteering test would be to hike from Bell Smith Springs to Jackson Hole. One could follow the Bell Smith trail system south down Bay Creek, exit to the east, and pick up Sand Cave en route. Then cross Cedar Grove Rd, bearing east/northeast, and in about a mile pick up the drainage coming out of Jackson Hole. This route is only for people good with maps and who have good maps.

The R2R Trail does not pass through Bell Smith Springs. It passes to the south, eventually joining Bay Creek at Bay Lake, roughly 3 miles down stream from Bell Smith Springs.

Jackson Hollow/Bay Lake: Jackson Hollow has numerous bluffs which are very popular among rock climbers. Bay Lake is about a mile south of here. There is a trail from Bay Lake into Jackson Hollow's long canyon that holds a railroad grade serving coal mines nearby.



WESTERN SEGMENT (WEST OF I24)

Ferne Clyffe State Park: Amazing cliffs and bluffs. The west unit has a dramatic pour-off waterfall and some of the highest bluffs in the state (if you can bushwhack to them). Nice campground with showers. Goreville nearby has food.

Panther Den: Amazing set of bluffs on the east side of the canyon with large chunks of sandstone that have calved off and created passageways and tunnels among the rocks.

Giant City Park: The signature giant city trail is short but has huge rock formations. Across the road, the Devil’s Table trail has dramatic bluffs that offer some great scrambling on the edges.